Abstract: A waste fluid collection container, which includes a tray having a floor defined by a periphery, where the floor has a plurality of raised flow enhancing areas and a fluid absorbing member that sits inside the tray. In embodiments, the raised areas are elongated ridges extending outwardly from a central area. In other embodiments, the raised areas are a plurality of studs.

Abstract: A waste fluid collection container, which includes a tray having a floor defined by a periphery, where the floor has a plurality of raised flow enhancing areas and a fluid absorbing member that sits inside the tray. In embodiments, the raised areas are elongated ridges extending outwardly from a central area. In other embodiments, the raised areas are a plurality of studs.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge identification system is disclosed which ensures that an ink jet printer operates only with ink jet cartridges compatible with the specific printer function. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead has a light reflector incorporated into a transparent wall of the ink container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to an optical station comprising a light source and a photosensor. The light source is energized and a beam of light is directed towards the reflector.

Abstract: A method and system for a wiper blade mechanism usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer, including at least one printhead cap, a scraper, a cam shaft, a drive gear mechanism, at least one wiper blade, and a spittoon.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a recording medium moving along a path through a print zone, includes a printhead, adapted to deposit ink on the recording medium in the print zone; and a radiant dryer, disposed adjacently to the path, for heating the recording medium. The radiant dryer includes a reflector and a heat source. The reflector includes a first portion defining a first heat region preheating the recording medium at a position in the path prior to the print zone, and a second portion defining a second heat region heating the recording medium in or subsequent to the print zone. In this design, the first portion generates heat energy having a first temperature and said second portion generates heat energy having a second temperature greater than said first temperature.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer in which liquid ink is deposited on a recording medium in swaths in response to image data received thereby including a power supply, having a maximum power rating determined as a function of a number of passes per swath necessary to compete a swath having maximum ink coverage. The printer includes a print power regulation circuit, including a regulation circuit input, for receiving the image data, and a regulation circuit output, for transmitting image data in a number of passes per swath, the number of passes per swath being determined as a function of the maximum power rating, and a liquid ink printhead, coupled to the power supply and to the print power regulation circuit, for ejecting the liquid ink according to the transmitted image data.

Abstract: A method for detecting the location of an edge, interface, seam or other structure of a workpiece uses one or two electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) to transmit an ultrasonic wave along the workpiece toward the edge and to receive a reflected wave. The velocity of the wave in the material is used in conjunction with the round trip time-of-flight (TOF) of the transmitted and reflected wave, to calculate the location of the edge. This is done by placing the transducer or transducers at known locations on the workpiece. A surface wave or 90 degree shear wave can be utilized and no contact is needed between the transducer and the surface of the workpiece. Rough and/or dirty surfaces and hostile environments can be accommodated while practicing the invention.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining the integrity of coated nuclear fuel particles by evaluating acoustic parameter measurements of the particles during controlled loading.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of surface corrosion under insulation on a piping structure employs artificially generated, broadband acoustic sound waves to interrogate the piping structure. The sound waves are coupled into the piping structure and detected after they have propagated through and interacted with a portion of the piping structure. The amplitude of RMS voltage signals indicative of the detected sound waves is used to determine whether or not surface corrosion is present. Highly corroded pipes have been shown to yield relatively low RMS voltage signals whereas the lack of corrosion yields relatively high RMS voltage signals.

Abstract: An ink jet printer in which an ink cartridge is used. The cartridge includes an ink tank and a head base plate which has an ink jet head including a plurality of ink discharging nozzles. A carriage for mounting an ink cartridge thereon has at least three projections for individually contacting with at least three portions of the head base plate. The head base plate is pressed against the projections to fix the ink cartridge to the carriage thereby to position ink discharging nozzles of the ink jet head accurately at predetermined positions with respect to a recording medium so that ink may be jetted in a predetermined direction with certainty from the ink jet head to the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining the integrity of coated fuel particles via acoustic characterization. Particle supply means (4) drops the nuclear fuel particles (2) individually onto the face (6) of a transducer (8). The generated signal which is indicative of the integrity of the coating on the dropped particle is analyzed with analyzing means (26, 28, 30) for discriminating between a flawed and an unflawed particle.